free events

Kick off the new year by taking part in a free Stroller Strides class at a new indoor location. The one-hour class will feature co-teaching from three Stroller Strides instructors, and be filled with music for mom interlaced with songs for kiddos.

The morning kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with a "Women Who Rock"-themed Stroller Strides class, followed by giveaways, prizes, refreshments and more than an hour of playtime for children 12 months to age 7 on Vetta's indoor playground of giant inflatables!

The LUME Institute invites parents with children from birth through age 8 to a series of free parent workshops focusing on developing parenting skills and learning about child development.

The Parent Cafe sessions are opportunities to build relationships with other parents and hear from child development experts on the following topics:

Jan. 14: A Vision for Me

Feb. 11: Building Our Families

March 10: Empowering Community

Stop in to The Lodge Des Peres and take in free exercise sampler classes for Sunday Funday.

The Lodge Fitness Team will showcase some of the new exercise classes being offered in 30 minute sessions from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Sessions are open to all, members and nonmembers, residents and non-residents.  Free.

Sessions include zumba, yoga, pilates and group strength. In the Lodge group exercise studio. For adults and teens ages 16 and up. Child care is not available.

At this free hands-on workshop, kids ages 5 to 12 can build a wooden valentines mailbox to hold all of their valentines just in time for Valentine's Day. All supplies will be provided.

Participants will receive a free Kids Workshop apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement. 

9 a.m. to noon at local Home Depot stores. To register and find the workshop nearest you, go to homedepot.com/workshops

Did your child’s school miss out on a Maple Sugar School Field Trip? No problem. Learn the history of maple sugaring, visit the sugar bush to collect sap, and learn to boil it down into syrup. Dress for the weather as the entire program is outdoors and part of the trail is not stroller accessible.

Free. 4-5:30 p.m. at Rockwoods Reservation in Wildwood. 

More information and reservations: www.mdc.mo.gov

Looking at a skeleton can give you a key to what the animal is and how it lived. Did it swim, fly, walk or slither? What did it eat? At this nature workshop, kids will take a mystery mammal skull through a special question and answer maze and "key it out" to find out what animal it is.

For ages 7 and up. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood. Call 314-301-1500 for reservations.

More information: mdc.mo.gov

Step into the nocturnal world of owls at the Owl Prowl at Powder Valley. Discover what owls eat and the unique adaptations that owls possess for life at night.

You'll also learn about the different species of owls that frequent Missouri and what makes them special. Explore the night forest as you search for these amazing creatures during an evening of owling. Please dress for the weather.

Free. For families with kids ages 7 and up. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center.